Baru denies proposing state govts bear cost of federal roads maintenance

KUCHING: Works Minister Baru Bian has denied a news report of him proposing that state governments take over the maintenance of federal and rural roads using their own funds this year.

“This report is not accurate. I didn’t say about asking the state governments to bear the costs of construction of federal roads, and secondly (there is) no specifi c mention for this year’s projects,” he pointed out, adding that his officers had asked for the said report, based on a press conference which he attended in Penang, to be amended.

He clarified that what he meant was for the state governments to use funds placed under the Malaysian Road Records Information System ( Marris) to maintain federal roads.

“As I’ve said, this idea is only on the use of Marris’ allocation to maintain federal roads. This is just an idea mooted by my ministry which, of course, will be dependent on the respective states to agree or not – because we cannot force any state to use this fund for the maintenance of federal roads.

“The reporter asked me on this Marris allocation. So that’s my response.

“( This has) nothing to do with costs of construction of federal roads in the states,” he said.

It is understood that federal and rural roads are usual ly maintained through funds from the Works Ministry and the Rural Development Ministry.

Funds for the maintenance of state roads come from the State Road Grants provision under Article 109 (1) ( b) of the Federal Constitution.

The funds are placed under Marris, and under a trust handled by the state governments.

Meanwhile, several Gabungan Parti Sarawak ( GPS) leaders condemned the news report.

Former works minister Datuk Seri Fadillah Yusof, who is Petra Jaya member of parliament, said such move – should it be true – would be ‘ most unwise’ for Sarawak, where many federal allocations were being reduced.